Vale announced the commencement of its new iron ore grinding hub at the Chinese port of Shulanghu, which will be used to produce raw material for the global polyminer’s pellet production.
The hub will have three production lines, with a yearly output estimated at 3mn mt and was inaugurated on Tuesday, according to Vale’s media statement. The Shulangu Grinding Hub is situated at the ore terminal of the Shulanghu port, in China’s Zhejiang province. It will be fed with Vale’s Carajas Fines (IOCJ) to manufacture a new product named GF88.
Marcello Spinelli, Vale’s executive director of ferrous minerals, said that GF88 is a green product that works without heat or water, and produces no tailings. This environment-friendly product will also be of high-grade iron ore.
The move is aimed at meeting China’s long-term demand for iron ore. Vale will operate the grinding hub in partnership with Ningbo Zhoushan Port (NZP) group. The two firms have been partners since 2016 when they developed an ore blend named Brazilian Blend Fines (BRBF).